Encouraging Hearts and Home: Monthly Musings for August
With August coming to an end it's the start of school season up here as well as a slow and gradual turn towards fall. While we will still have warm summer like weather for a bit the mornings and evenings are getting cooler and it always feels like summer is over once schools start back up. I'm both sad that summer is over and excited that fall is on it's way as I just love fall and the beautiful changes it brings. This week's features all have that hint of fall.
And since it's the last Thursday of the month I'm also joining up with Holly and Patty for their monthly musings.
And since it's the last Thursday of the month I'm also joining up with Holly and Patty for their monthly musings.
1. I do have kids going back to school. I'm continuing to homeschool my oldest and youngest but my middle son decided to apply to a local high school that offers culinary arts and he was accepted. He will be attending full day in person for the first 11 days-- visiting a different shop each day. After that it is a confusing schedule and I just hope and pray we get him to school on the right days!
2. We have zero back to school traditions-- typically as homeschoolers we wait for the public schools to head back to school and plan a bunch of beach days, park days, field trips with our homeschooling group. It's sort of a back to school celebration week but that just isn't possible this year.
3. I can't really remember any back to school traditions from my childhood other than going back to school clothes shopping.
4. Alec has all new everything since none of my kids have stepped foot in a school for the past 8 years. He got a new backpack, lunch box, and there will be some new school supplies too whenever we get our supply list.
5. I tend to start using our crock pot more when we're back in school mode as it allows me a bit of free time in the afternoon to work on the blog or go hiking with our friends after working on our schoolwork in the morning.
6. Alec has a school uniform he'll be wearing-- a blue polo shirt, black chino pants (he can wear chino shorts on non-shop days), work boots, safety glasses (and a mask this year).
7. I have absolutely no idea how we'll stay organized or what our routine will be since I still don't even know what time or where the bus will picking Alec up & dropping him off. Ian also wants to try a 3 day school schedule and work two days a week. We'll ease into homeschooling a few subjects at a time and work our schooling around Alec's schedule for now.
8. We have no end of summer plans.
9. I'm not sure I'm really looking forward to anything this school year. Ian is looking forward to working and Alec is really hoping he'll get to start cooking up a storm at school (they run a cafe out of the culinary arts kitchen that is open to the public & for take out). I don't think Evan is looking forward to anything except perhaps hiking with our friends.
10. I used to give teacher gifts way back when my kids were in school (2nd grade/ kindergarten/ pre-school) but I'm not sure how that will work with high school and all the teachers he'll be having. We'll have to see how that goes I guess.
2. We have zero back to school traditions-- typically as homeschoolers we wait for the public schools to head back to school and plan a bunch of beach days, park days, field trips with our homeschooling group. It's sort of a back to school celebration week but that just isn't possible this year.
3. I can't really remember any back to school traditions from my childhood other than going back to school clothes shopping.
4. Alec has all new everything since none of my kids have stepped foot in a school for the past 8 years. He got a new backpack, lunch box, and there will be some new school supplies too whenever we get our supply list.
5. I tend to start using our crock pot more when we're back in school mode as it allows me a bit of free time in the afternoon to work on the blog or go hiking with our friends after working on our schoolwork in the morning.
6. Alec has a school uniform he'll be wearing-- a blue polo shirt, black chino pants (he can wear chino shorts on non-shop days), work boots, safety glasses (and a mask this year).
7. I have absolutely no idea how we'll stay organized or what our routine will be since I still don't even know what time or where the bus will picking Alec up & dropping him off. Ian also wants to try a 3 day school schedule and work two days a week. We'll ease into homeschooling a few subjects at a time and work our schooling around Alec's schedule for now.
8. We have no end of summer plans.
9. I'm not sure I'm really looking forward to anything this school year. Ian is looking forward to working and Alec is really hoping he'll get to start cooking up a storm at school (they run a cafe out of the culinary arts kitchen that is open to the public & for take out). I don't think Evan is looking forward to anything except perhaps hiking with our friends.
10. I used to give teacher gifts way back when my kids were in school (2nd grade/ kindergarten/ pre-school) but I'm not sure how that will work with high school and all the teachers he'll be having. We'll have to see how that goes I guess.
And Now, for This Week's Encouraging Hearts & Home Blog Hop!
Join your Encouraging Hearts & Home Co-Hosts each week for encouragement and support for your heart & your home. We hope to provide a space that builds each other up and lends a helping hand along the way. With all the negativity in the world, let's shine a positive light!
The post with the most views from last week:
Cheesecake Cupcake by Simple Joys
Some of my favorites from last week:
Use the form below to share your family-friendly posts this week, and please consider these nice things you can do:
DIY Fall Wreath from Egg Tray by Doodle Buddies
The Ultimate Family Fall Bucket List Printable by Amy Senter
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- Join us every Thursday!
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Linking Up With:
Good luck to your sweet boy- how exciting! I can't wait to see what he makes! I am nervous about staying organized this year as well- thank God for the family calendar :)
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't help that we are getting updates constantly that keep changing. I just keep telling myself that even if/when I screw up the school and teachers are going to totally understand!
DeleteThat is so cool that there is a school your son can go to learn culinary arts. I always thought he'd become a chef! That's awesome. thanks for the party.
ReplyDeleteYes, he was so excited when he learned that!! It's an awesome program too where they actually have a small cafe that the public can come and order food from an ever changing menu. Of course, we're not sure how that will play out this year... but I know they're working on solutions.
DeleteThanks so much for hosting each week!! Stay safe, healthy, happy!!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Deb
Thanks for joining us.
DeleteThat is very cool that Alec is doing a culinary program! Good luck with keeping on schedule!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteThat school schedule sounds confusing. Yikes! Yes, a family calendar is a must for us to stay organized, especially this year.
ReplyDeleteLOL! I didn't even share half of it as I am confused as to what comes next after his first 11 days in the building but I know the school will go over everything in more detail when that approaches.
DeleteI admire you for adopting your hybrid approach to school this year! All the best to you!
ReplyDeleteThank you! It should be interesting for sure!
DeleteI know what you mean about not looking forward to anything this school year. Things are so not the same. Our schools are all virtual until the end of September. My oldest is taking college classes though, and they are all in person right now. We did not buy hardly anything for this school year. A few binders, folders, and notebooks is pretty much it. Our school clothes right now are our pajamas, lol. We are planning an end of Summer trip to the lake and I am so excited to spend the weekend chilling and relaxing.
ReplyDeleteWe bought very few supplies as we are still waiting on a supply list. My boys have always used pajamas for back to school clothes; this was the first time in 8 years I had to go back to school shopping.
DeleteMy favorite part about back to school when I was a kid was the new shoes. Ugh, there was nothing better than a fresh pair of shoes to start the school year. This year we bought our kids new lunch boxes and water bottles, but I couldn't bring myself to get book bags since they were all $30 and I'm not convinced they are going to keep schools open in hybrid mode. Most of us are thinking they are going to open for a few weeks, the virus is going to hit one of the schools and they are going to shut everything down. I hope it's not the case, but I can't help but think that it's going to happen. And if it is the case, I don't want to have spent $60 on backpacks that hang on their hooks all year.
ReplyDeleteI think that's what's going to happen too. Our school is hoping to stay open until at least mid-Oct when the 9th graders will pick their shop for the next 3 1/2 years so at least they know what to teach them virtually. I had no choice but to get him a backpack as his old one was from Kindergarten! LOL.
DeleteGood luck with back to school! I'm still just 21 weeks pregnant with our little one, but I can imagine this year will be quite something.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I can say is that being away from traditional schooling so long it's not like we have much of anything to compare it to anyway. Best of luck with your pregnancy!
DeleteYUMMY!
ReplyDeleteJoanne, thank you very much for featuring my fall wreath with egg tray. Delighted.
ReplyDeleteNaush
You're welcome!
DeleteI need to start using my crockpot more now that my girls are in school. We don't have any traditions for school since this is their first official year.
ReplyDeleteIt comes in so handy when I'm so buy with after school things like homework and activities.
DeleteThat culinary program sounds so exciting, but also somewhat hard to juggle with the others being homeschooled! Hopefully they'll give you more info on specifics soon. Good luck with the new school year!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Thankfully homeschooling is quite flexible.
DeleteOh a culinary arts school sounds so fun. Wishing you a good school year to all your kids. Thanks for linking up with us.
ReplyDeletePatty
He can not wait! He is so excited.
Delete